“While Romney’s talking tough on Iran on the campaign trail, as is typical, his rhetoric just doesn’t match his actions. Romney’s own charity has invested in companies that do business with Iran and he has failed to divest such interests even though he has promised to do so. While Mitt Romney has helped prop up the Iranian economy with investments in companies doing business there, including in Iranian oil and natural gas reserves, the President has imposed strict sanctions against the Iranian regime. Mitt Romney might want to come clean about his investments in companies doing business with Iran before he launches any more false attacks against the President.”

ROMNEY’S FAMILY CHARITY HAS HAD FINANCIAL INTERESTS IN COMPANIES THAT DO BUSINESS WITH IRAN

Romney’s Pledge To Sell Off Interests That Conflict With His GOP Stances Did Not Extend To Some Investments In A Family Charity. According to the Associated Press, “Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney's personal wealth — up to $250 million — survived the nation's economic crisis, according to figures released Friday. But his pledge to sell off interests that conflict with his GOP stances did not extend to some investments in a family charity”. [Associated Press, 8/12/11]

Romney’s Charity, In 2007 And 2008, Purchased And Sold Investment Shares In “More Than A Dozen Other Foreign And Domestic Companies That Have Conducted Dealings With Iran, China Or Stem Cell Research.” According to the Associated Press, “In 2007 and 2008, the charity also purchased and sold hundreds of other investment shares - worth thousands of dollars - in more than a dozen other foreign and domestic companies that have conducted dealings with Iran, China or stem cell research. The companies included China-based businesses Hang Lung, Telefonica and China Mobile Limited; medical research companies such as Merck, Roche Holdings and Fisher Scientific; and companies that dealt with Iran, among them Schlumberger, Gazprom and Total.” [Associated Press, 8/12/11]

2009: Romney’s Charity Bought Shares In Petroleo Brasiliero, Which “Invested $100 Million To Develop Iranian Oil And Natural Gas Reserves.” According to the Associated Press, “Yet as late as the 2009 period, tax filings show, Romney's charity bought shares worth $5,734 in Petroleo Brasiliero SA, also known as Petrobras, a Brazilian state-owned energy company that reportedly invested $100 million to develop Iranian oil and natural gas reserves in the Caspian Sea. The charity later sold the shares that year at a loss.” [Associated Press, 8/12/11]

The blast is a reminder of a few things: First, Romney's rivals have been amazingly absent from the game of digging up damaging and hard-to-find information and throwing it at him. Second, there's plenty of Romney-vetting left to do in a general election context. And lastly, the DNC and Obama campaign haven't said a peep since last night about onetime GOP front-runner Rick Perry's wreck of a debate.